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First issue of the Liberator
The Liberator was the first newspaper published that was against slavery. Written by William Lloyd Garrison, the American anti-slavery society was subscribed to it. -
Compromise of 1850
Proposed by Henry Clay. Stated that California would become a free state. The slave trade would become illegal in Washington D.C. Also stated that any person how helped a fugitive slave or run away slave could be fined or imprisoned. This was called the Fugitive Slave Act. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin was published
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel that became very popular. It showed how slavery was a cruel and brutal system. Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, the book was banned in the south. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Proposed by Stephen A. Douglas. It stated the popular sovereignty would decide if the Kansas and Nebraska territories would allow slavery or not. This act repealed the Missouri Compromise. -
James Buchanan sworn in as the 15th President
James Buchanan was a Democratic candidate. He was from Pennsylvania, he was also a diplomat and member of congress. He wanted to appeal to white Southerners. He supported popular sovereighty. -
Dred Scott decision
Dred Scott was a slave to a doctor. That doctor moved to a free state and took Dred along with him. After some time they moved back to the slave states. When they got back Dred tried to sue his owner for freedom. His case was that he should be free because he was in free state. The judge's opinion was that even though he was living on free soil, it doesn't make him a free man. According to the 5th amendment you can not take peoples property and as a slave Dred Scott was the doctors property. -
John Brown raid at Harpers Ferry
John Brown planned to arm slaves so they could rebel against their owners. He tried to raid Harpers Ferry, an arsenal. Troops and citizens defended the arsenal. He was hung after his trial. Many people thought that his act was unnecessary and a misuse of violence. While others thought he was brave because he died for what he believed in. -
Abe Lincon elected President
The democratic party had split into two sections, each had their own candidate. Because of this the Republicans could over power both sides of the democrats. -
South Carolina succeds from the Union
South Carolina succeeded from the Union after Abraham Lincoln was elected President. After South Carolina succeeded many states followed. They created a new country called the Confederate States of America. -
Battle at Fort Sumter starts
Fort Sumter was in the Southern states but still being controlled by the U.S. government. Lincoln receive a message stating that the fort was running low on supplies. He sent unarmed troop to deliver the supplies. Before they got there Jefferson Davis ordered Confederate troops to attack. No one was killed in this battle, but it is marked as the start of the Civil War. -
Battle of Bull Run
The battle of Bull run was the first major land battle fought in the Civil War. The South won after the North retreated. The North blamed the loose on General McDowell and replaced him with General McClellan. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The constitution did not give Abe Lincoln the right to end slavery, but he could take away property. Since slavery were considered property Lincoln made the Emancipation Proclamation that stated all slaves were free in Confederate states. This did not free slaves in the border states though. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This was the first Northern victory of the Civil War. Many men were killed from both sides of the war. South lost about 25,000 men and the North lost about 23,000. -
Shermans March to Sea
General William Sherman marched his troops, in two columns each 25-60 miles wide. His troops had orders to destroy everything in sight. His troops met General Grants troops and together destroyed or seized anything important they came across. -
Surrender at Appomattox Court House
General Lee believed that even after General Grant asked him to surrender, that they must keep fighting. Later the North captured a train that was bringing General Lee's troops food. He then realized he needed to surrender. At the court house they shook hands and made the deal. General Grant told him that they could keep their weapons and horses and gave the Confederate soldiers food for the trip home. -
Lincoln's Assasination
President Lincoln went to a play at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. While at the play actor John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the head.
